Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-03-14

Cemetery-Graves of the Unidentified.
The Rows of Tom bstones.
Let us turn to the cemetery. This i stu
ated about half mile northeast Of the station
at Andersonville, and comprises about twenty
four acres Of beautifully undulating grounds
with many natural features not to be found
in the spot from which we have just turned.
The appearance of the cemetery has been Ell
tirely changed since war days. Then it was
but a rude field. The dead were buried in
trenches seven feet wide four feet deep and
from fifty to $50 yards long. No cofiins were
used, but the twisted, emaciated forms of the
dead prisoners were laid side by side, aid at
the head Of each was driven a little stake, on
which was painted a number corresponding
10 the number of the body on the dea.h regis
ter The cemetery was a direful necessity,
and no extra pains were taken with 1t. Not
before June, 1865, was any step taken toward
inclosing the ground and marking the graves
50 that they could be identified in the future.
A word of explanation respecting the death
register is perhaps necessary that the reader
may see why only 92l out of l., ,193 lack
Identification When a prisoner died his
comrades reported TO the registrar of the
hcau, Pii tudb pp~ts
near the wicket at the south gate. The
registrar recorded the name, state, regiment,
company, rank and date of death of the dead
man and assigned him a number. Thus each
corpse was numbered, and as they were car
ried out in the dead wagon for burial care
was taken to inter the bodies in order and
mark each with a numbered stake. All this
was done by prisoners detailed for that work.
.,,l h.,, h..e hat a
IDENTIFYING THE GRAVES.
Thus, when James b. Moore, assistant
quarterInaSter United States army, was ap-
pointed to care temporarily for the dead at
AnderSonville, he had no difficulty with the
aii of the registry that had been kept i'll
identifying most of the graves. With
free of several hundred men he proceeded to
lay out walks, fence III the grounds and
mark the graves with painted head boards.
About i20.OO0 feet of pine boards We're thus
used OF course, some stakes had been re
moved and some directions on the registry
were imperfect: but the care that was taken
IS a credit to those who had the matter in
charge.
The work then begun Timely has since
been untiringly kept up. The cemetery now
presents beautiful appearance. The grounds
are nicely laid out and neatly kept The
whole Is inclosed by brick wall about five
and a half feet high, the plainness of the wall
being relieved by neatly constructed twenty
foot panels, which are supported by square
plas'ers, the pilasters being carried above the
top course of the wall The fine iron gates
are always open to visitors, who flock to the
place by hundreds.
From the center of a diamond shaped plat
rises flag staff on which the stars and stripes
are to be seen flying from sunrise 10 sunset.
except in inclement weather. Near by are
stationed a couple of cannon, mounted OF
store bases From this point radiate four
finely kept avenues, about twenty feet wide,
parallel rows Of large water oaks cast on them
an abundant shade; brick cutters on either
side keep them well drained. The four sec
tions of the cemetery are also well shaded and
beautifully adorned with shrubs and foliage
plants.
ROWS OF ToMBSToNEs.
The graves. of course are as they were
first formed The painted head boards that
Mr.. Moore erected have been taken away and
burned, and substantial white marble slabs
have been erected in their places These
stones are Of two kinds, but those Of each
kind are uniform. Here and there, indeed
are stones that have been furnished by the
family of the dead, but the majority are of
the uniform make, furnished by the govern
ment
For the graves of identified soldiers the
tombstones are fiat, polished slabs, three feet
long, one-half being under ground, four
inches thick and twelve inches wide On the
face side is a raised shield, and on this is
recorded the number, name. rank and state
of him who sleeps below. This is neat. and
of course somewhat monotonous. but it is the |
hest a generous minded public could do. For |
the unknown soldiers the stones are four
inches square and project only five inches |
above ground The rows of graves are about |
ten or twelve feet apart, Everything is SO
neatly cared for, the spot is so replete with |
memories, the symmetrical rows of tomb |
stones are so symbolic Of a similar cause and |
an equal fate, the pleasant grounds are so |
shady and quiet that one feels the scene |
deeply impressive. Here and there too. are |
found cast tablets-tbere are some twenty-five |
of them altogether-bearing suitable inscrip- |
tons. Many of these are extremely beauti- |
full, bringing to the visitors mind the dignity,
heroisn and suffering of the fallen soldiers |
Cor Chicago Times.